Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023 I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare. This is for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows impacted as determined by my Department's Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
My Department has contacted the farmers that the Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, identified as having been impacted by the flooding, providing them with a simple application form for them to sign and return if they wish to apply for the support. Farmers are asked to confirm they have lost fodder as a result of the exceptional flooding in order to receive payment.
Using satellite data to identify those most impacted represents the most appropriate mechanism to verify the baseline criteria required to establish eligibility for the scheme and to ensure much needed funds are received by farmers in a prompt manner. Imagery captured by the Copernicus Sentinel satellites is publicly available and utilising a flooding marker, provides clear identification of flooding in the Shannon Callows between 02 July 2023 and the 29 September 2023. The Department identified flooding in Sentinel 1 images based on the low backscatter returns from water surfaces. The spatial resolution of the image is 10 metres, meaning a majority of a 10 metre x 10 metre area must be flooded. Sentinel 1 was used in the analysis to pick up flood events as it is not impacted by clouds in the same way as Sentinel 2 is. There is other open-source satellite data available, but it is of coarser resolution and is also impacted by cloud cover.
Given that the scheme was announced in November 2023, and that seasonal flooding is a feature of the Shannon Callows, ground checks were not a feasible option for confirming flooding that occurred between 02 July 2023 and 29 September 2023.
A total of 230 expression of interest letters including the application form were issued on the 17 November 2023 and a further 47 expression of interest letters including the application form issued on the 7 December 2023, with 268 out of 277 paid as of 19 January 2024.
